Metal drum



A E. H. BENSON 2,711,264

METAL DRUM `lune 21, 1955 Filed sept. a, 195o 'yl/1 111.71 4 'l IN VENTOR.

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United States This invention relates in general to the shipment andstorage of liquids, particularly chemical and petroleum products, and itdeals more specifically with an improved drum, barrel, or like vesseldesigned for this' purpose.

t is an object of the invention to provide a storage or shipping vesselof light compact structure to facilitate handling, yet suciently strongto withstand normal shock and wear without rupture or deformation.

In this connection an important feature of the invention resides in theprovision of a vessel of this type fabricated of welded cup-shaped halfsections of aluminum or other light metal wherein the rolling rings aswell as the chimes of the vessel are expanded and drawn from thematerial of its side walls.

Another object is to provide a vessel of particular constructiondesigned to prevent contamination of its contents either as a result ofchemical reaction of the contained liquids or gases with the innersurfaces thereof, or as the result of the retention therein of any ofthe contents of a previous use of the vessel.

Accordingly, another important feature of the invention resides in theprovision of a vessel having substantially smooth side walls and innersurfaces free of sharp corners which might entrap uids or sediment, andwherein positive free draining surfaces are provided in that portion ofthe side wall lying on each side of a filler or drain opening.

A further object is to provide a drum, barrel or like container of thischaracter which is` simple in design and therefore economical tomanufacture by mass production methods.

Other and further objects of my invention together with the features ofnovelty will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification andare to be read in conjunction therewith, and in which like referencenumerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the drum or barrel, part of thehead being cut away to show the structure of the drainage insertslocated in the side of the vessel,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the drum or barrel, part of thewall being broken away to show the structure of the side and end wallsof the vessel and the position of the drainage inserts adjacent thefiller opening,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the filler opening and plug taken alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2, in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Fig.1 in the direction of the arrows, showing the configuration of thedrainage inserts and the manner in which they are welded to the sidewalls of the vessel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, shown therein is a drum orbarrel of aluminum or similar light metal fabricated of twosubstantially identical cup-shaped arent plane transverse to itslongitudinal axis. As can-bestv drawn or expanded from the end surface4of the vessel halves 10a and 10b welded together along the annular vseam 12 to provide a vessel symmetrical about a medial to project beyondthe head and form a hollow chime 16 blending into the outer barrelsurface and into the head in reverse curve indentations as shown. Theoffsets between the wall sections of thevessel as well as the arcuatesurfaces of the chimes are formed with substantial radii of curvature sothatthe vessel is provided with smoothly contoured surfacessubstantially free of angles or sharpcorners which might entrapsediment, foreign matter or solids carried by the contained liquids.

This type of structure facilitates drainage and cleaning' of the vesseland also provides it with increased inherent strength againstdeformation such as might occur from rough handling incident to normaluse.

Located in the side wall of the vessel, near the center thereof butlaterally spaced from the welded seam 12, is a filler opening.' Thisopening is convenientlyformed in one of the half sections of vthecontainer before they are joined and, as indicated in Fig. 3, comprisesessentially an outturned flange or spout 18 reversely bent to define anaperture adapted by means of an internally disposed, threaded collar 2?to receive a screw-in type plug v22.

A vent opening 24, smaller in size but similar in structure to thefiller opening, is provided in one of the vessel heads. This latteropening is located off the center of the head on an outwardly pressedrib 26 which blends into the center portion of the head, the outer edgeof the opening being positioned below the projecting surface of thechime so that it is vprotected thereby from damage when the vessel isupended for storage. The rib 26 forms a well in the inner surface of thehead which will cause fluid to drain toward the opening should it bedesired to use the same for a pouring spout or for draining the vessel.

Encircling the vessel on each side of the ller opening and laterallyspaced from the medial section ofthe container are a pair of annularrolling rings 2S. These rings are also expanded from the side walls oflthe half sections and extend away from the outer wall surfaces thereofslightly farther than does the plugged filler opening. Therefore, therings not only serve to strengthen the body structure of the containeragainst deformation but they also permit-rolling of the barrel withoutdamage to the structure of the filler opening.

It is obvious that in a drum or barrel of this type the expansion of therolling rings 28 from the material of the side walls will formcorresponding annular wells in the inner surfaces of the vessel.ordinarily tend to retain a small quantity of the vessels contents whenit is drained with the filler opening held in the downward position.indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. However, a salient feature ofnovelty in my invention resides in the provision of special drainsurfaces in the wells thereby. to cause the entire contents of thevessel to drain freely through the opening. As can best be appreciatedfrom Fig. 4, these surfaces are formed by a pair of relatively thinplates 30 having their mar- Patented .lune 21, 1955y These wells wouldkpoint lying on the longitudinal line through the axis. With the insertedplates thus positioned, it can readily be seen that when the vessel isheld in the position indi cated in the drawings, with the ller openingturned downward for draining, any liquid which might otherwise beretained in the wells will be caused to drain freely therefrom and passthrough the opening.

It will be seen that a drum or barrel of this construction embodiesseveral important advantages. First, the vessel is light in weight andtherefore more economical to ship as well as more easily handled iorboth transportation and storage. Since the container is Vprovided withrolling rings and chimes drawn or expanded from the material of itssidewalls, it is a structure of greater inherent strength capable ofwithstanding the wear and shock incident to normal use. Not only is thevessel constructed of material normally resistant to chemical reaction,thereby to prevent contamination of its contents, but in addition it isprovided withsmoothly contoured inner surfaces as well as special draininserts to permit free drainage of its contents and prevent theretention of any portion thereof from one use to another. Finally, thebasic structure of the vessel is sutliciently simple in design to allowit to .be economically manufactured by mass production methods.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one welladapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinbefore set forthtogether with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherentto the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without L, lying in the plane of rollingrings.

reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated byand is within the scope of the claim.

inasmuch as various modifications of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof,

it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as iliustrative and not inalimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: A single-walled metalbarrel comprising two continnous unitary halves welded along acircumferential median line to form a unitary structure, a chime androlling ring formed in each half, a bung in one of the halves betweenthe rolling ring and the circumferential weld, said bung protrudingabove the surface of said barrel to a lesser height than said rollingrings, and

metallic inserts covering that portion of the grooves formed within thebarrel by the rolling rings which lies below the bung when the bung isdownwardly positioned,

each metallic insert having an elongated oval shape and a chord of oneof the circular References Cited in the tile-of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS

